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Geomorphology > Glaciers > Flashcards

Glaciers Flashcards

1
Q

what holds the most water in the hydrosphere

A

Oceans - about 97%

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2
Q

what are the two largest non-ocean component of water distributed in hydrosphere

A

largest is glaciers (2.15%)

groundwater - 0.62%

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3
Q

what is a glacier

A

a large accumulation of LAND ice affected by present of past flowage

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4
Q

how do glaciers behave

A

behave plastically (ie they flow as one large mass of ice without breakage)

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5
Q

what does it mean that glaciers are plastic

A

that they move as a flow, one large mass of ice moving without breaking

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6
Q

are glaciers accumulation of sea ice

A

NO - land ice

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7
Q

what latitudes have glaciers shaped landforms

A

middle and high latitudes

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8
Q

what is an example of a country largely impacted by glaciers

A

Canada

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9
Q

why are large bodies of ice plastic

A

because the pressure on the bottom of the mound of ice compresses it

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10
Q

can ice slide down a slope

A

YES with aid of gravity

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11
Q

how do glacial ice sheets affect global warming

A
  1. they reflect sunlight = high albedo = cooling effect
  2. affects global heat transfer = blocks the movement of heat through the landscape = cooling effect
  3. volume of ice affects sea levels = the buildup of water ON LAND lowers the sea level
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12
Q

what are 6 types of glaciers

A
  1. valley/alpine
  2. ice sheet
  3. ice cap
  4. outlet glaciers and ice streams
  5. piedmont glaciers
  6. tidewater glaciers
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13
Q

what are alpine/valley glaciers

A

long, narrow mountain glacier occupying the FLOOR of a trough-like valley

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14
Q

what is the driving force of alpine/valley glaciers

A

gravity

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15
Q

what are two ways alpine/valley glaciers move

A

basal sliding

plastic flow

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16
Q

describe basal sliding

A

when the temperature at the base of the glacier is above melting temp and so melting can occur.

Melting facilitates glacier movement as friction is reduced and so the ice can slide over the valley floor.

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17
Q

describe plastic flow

A

the internal flowage of the ice based on the weight on top of the bottom layer of glacier

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18
Q

what does the rigid zone mean for alpine/valley glaciers

A

the top of the glacier where ice behaves brittlely (not plastic like at bottom)

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19
Q

what forms in the rigid zone of alpine/valley glaciers

A

crevasses

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20
Q

describe the upper and lower part of alpine/valley glaciers

A

upper - glacier is brittle

lower - glacier is plastic

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21
Q

contrast zone of accumulation vs zone of ablation for glaciers

A

accumulation
- glacier is growing (based on gaining more snow than melting)

ablation
- glacier is evaporating/melting (receding)

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22
Q

how can alpine glaciers slide downhill

A

on mud and meltwater

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23
Q

what is the rate of movement for alpine glaciers

A

about a few centimeters/day to several meters/day

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24
Q

is the movement of alpine glaciers always slow

A

NO

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25
Q

what is a surge in terms of alpine glaciers

A

rapid movement of alpine glaciers (up to 60 m/day) for several months

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26
Q

what type of glacier is this

A

alpine/valley glacier

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27
Q

what are ice sheets

A

large thick plate of glacial ice moving outwards in all directions

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28
Q

how do ice sheets affect global climate

A
  • reflect sunlight = cooling effect
  • affects the entire global heat transport NOT just local ones because of sheer volume
  • lowers sea levels
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29
Q

how do ice sheets move

A

they start from a central high location and move downward/outward in all directions

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30
Q

what are two ice sheets on Earth

A
  • Greenland ice sheet
  • Antarctic Ice Sheet
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31
Q

what type of glacier is this

A

ice sheets

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32
Q

what is an ice cap

A

a glacier that flows on top of topography

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33
Q

how does an ice cap glacier grow

A

starts at top of topography and flows in all directions

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34
Q

how is an ice cap similar yet different to ice sheet

A

both start at topographical highs and flow in all directions but ICE CAPS ARE SMALLER

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35
Q

what type of glacier is this

A

ice cap

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36
Q

what type of glacier is this

A

Piedmont glacier

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37
Q

what are outlet glaciers and ice streams

A

valley glacier or stream of ice that grows out of an ice cap or ice sheet

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38
Q

what do outlet glaciers form

A

fjords

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39
Q

what large body of ice does a outlet glacier flow from

A

ice cap OR ice sheet

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40
Q

what type of glacier is this

A

outlet glacier/ice stream

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41
Q

what are piedmont glaciers

A

an outlet glacier that forms an ALLUIAL FAN SHAPE

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42
Q

where do piedmont glaciers form

A

where there is a transition from steep topography to gentle sloping topography

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43
Q

how do tidewater glaciers form

A

when a valley glacier or outlet glacier starts to grow out onto the sea

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44
Q

what two types of glaciers can form a tidewater glacier

A

valley glacier or outlet glacier

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45
Q

what type of glacier is this

A

tidewater glacier

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46
Q

what are the steps for building a glacier

A
  1. glacier ice builds up when snowfall in winter EXCEEDS the snow melt in summer
  2. each annual layer of snow, melt and refreeze cycle hardens the remaining snow
  3. over time the accumulation of hardened ice compresses the lower layers into hard crystalline ice
  4. once ice is thick enough the lower layers have enough compression from upper layers that the mass flows plastically
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47
Q

what temperatures are best for glacier formation

A

temps are low and snowfall is high

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48
Q

what are the steps for glacier formation in a nutshell

A

snow —> firn (compressed snow) —-> glacier ice

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49
Q

what are some methods of glacier wastage (how glacier lose ice)

A
  1. melting
  2. evaporation
  3. calving into icebergs
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50
Q

what does calving mean

A

when tidewater glaciers break off from main outlet glacier or valley glacier into the ocean

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51
Q

what are negative and positive glacier budgets

A

negative
- receding glacier
- loss of ice is more than ice accumulation

positive
- advancing glacier
- more ice accumulating than is lost

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52
Q

what glacier budget is this

advancing glacier

A

positive budget

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53
Q

what glacier budget is this

receding glacier

A

negative budget

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54
Q

what divides the zones of accumulation and wastage

A

snow line

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55
Q

what is zone of accumulation

A

part of a glacier’s surface, usually at higher elevations, where there is net accumulation of snow

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56
Q

what zone of a glacier is associated with the production of firn

A

zone of accumulation

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57
Q

zone of wastage

A

The lower portion of the glacier where the ice is lost

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58
Q

what is the terminus

A

the end of the glacier movement associated with the budget

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59
Q

what kind of terminus is associated with positive budget

A

end of glacier moving downward (advancing the glacier)

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60
Q

what kind of terminus is associated with negative budgetS

A

end of glacier moving upwards (receding glacier)

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61
Q

what zone of formation is 1

A

zone of accumulation

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62
Q

what zone of formation is 2

A

snow line

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63
Q

what zone of formation is 3

A

zone of wastage

64
Q

what are some under glacier methods of erosion

A
  1. abrasion
  2. plucking
  3. polishing and rounding
  4. rock flour
  5. striation
65
Q

describe the 5 under glacier methods of erosion

A
  1. abrasion
    - the glacial ice holds material frozen in the ice that rub against the ground
  2. plucking
    - ice picks up loose bedrock from the environment and carries it along and running it across the surface
  3. polishing and rounding
    - the abrasion of the rock by the glacier renders the rock so smooth it reflects light
  4. rock flour
    - the component of glacier sediment that is much finer than sand produced by the constant grinding at the base of the ice.
  5. striation
    - a series of long, straight, parallel lines or grooves scratched onto a bedrock surface by rock fragments lodged in the base of a moving glacier
66
Q

what type of under glacial erosion shows the direction it is moving

A

the polishing and striation of bedrock

67
Q

what are above glacier erosion methods

A
  • frost wedging
  • erosion to steepen the slope
68
Q

what type of under erosion is this

A

glacial striation

69
Q

what types of glacial erosion is this

A

plucking leading to abrasion

70
Q

what are the erosional landscapes associated with alpine glaciers

A
  1. U - shaped valley
  2. hanging valley
  3. glacial troughs
  4. fjords
  5. rounded knobs (roche mountonnees)
  6. crag and tail
  7. rock steps
71
Q

what are some erosional features associated with alpine glaciation

A
  1. cirque
  2. tarns
  3. col
  4. horn
  5. arete
  6. truncated spurs
  7. triangular facets
72
Q

what are U shaped valleys

A

a valley that has been carved out by a glacier where the profile of the valley is altered by erosional forces of the glacier (turning the original V shaped valley to U shaped)

73
Q

what erosion landscape is this

A

u shaped valley

74
Q

what is a glacial hanging valley

A

found higher than the floor of the main valley, up on the sides of larger U-shaped valley and form from tributary valleys (smaller glaciers)

75
Q

what erosion landscape is this

A

hanging valley

76
Q

is there a height difference between a hanging valley and a U shaped valley

A

YES - hanging valley is further up than the floor of main valley

77
Q

what are glacial troughs

A

deep, steep sided rock trench formed by alpine glacier erosion

78
Q

what are fjords

A

forms when a U-shaped valley extends to the ocean and once the glacier recedes the sea level floods the old glacier valley

79
Q

what erosion landscape is this

80
Q

what are rounded knobs or roche moutonnees

A

asymmetric bedrock bumps or hills

81
Q

describe the two sides of a roche moutonnees

A

Stoss
- gently sloping side where the glacier climbs up and over the rock

Lee
- face that is usually blunter where the glacier drops off the rock face (rock face ends)

82
Q

what erosion landscape is this

A

Roche Moutonnees

83
Q

what are craig and tails

A

a large mass of resistant rock and a gentle sloping tail of less resistant rock caused by passage of glacier over an area of hard rock

84
Q

what is an example of craig and tail

A

Edinburgh Castle

85
Q

how do craig and tail features DIFFER from roche moutonnee

A
  1. the craig and tail is LARGER
  2. the craig and tail is the opposite to the roche moutonnee and has DOWNSLOPE in the direction of ice flow
86
Q

describe the type of rock that forms the tail and craig of the erosion feature

A

tail = softer rock = more erosion

craig = resistant rock = less erosion

87
Q

how are rock steps formed

A

when there are rocks of varying resistances covered by a glacier where lower resistant rocks will leave a hollow in the landscape and harder rocks are more resistant to erosion and will sit higher up

88
Q

what erosion landscape is this

A

craig and tail

89
Q

what erosion landscape is this

A

rock steps

90
Q

what are cirques

A

bowl-shaped like depression carved into mountains and valley sidewalls at HIGHER elevations by glacier

91
Q

what erosion landscape is this

92
Q

what erosion landscape is this

93
Q

what are tarns

A

small mountain lake occupying cirques formed as a glacier melts (NO streams filling it)

94
Q

what holds the tarn within the cirque

95
Q

col

A

the lowest area (mountain pass) between two cirques across an arete

96
Q

what erosion landscape is this

97
Q

where is the easiest area to cross between glaciers

A

across a col

98
Q

horn

A

pointed peaks bounded on at least three sides by aretes with flat faces

99
Q

what erosion landscape is this

100
Q

arete

A

thin, jagged crest that separates two adjacent glaciers

101
Q

describe the appearance of aretes

A

rugged ridgelines that look like serrated knifes or saw blades

102
Q

low pass points on the serrated surface of aretes

103
Q

what erosion landscape is this

104
Q

truncated spurs

A

found between hanging valleys and are created when a former tributary valley has been sliced off by larger LOWER glacier

105
Q

how are triangular facets formed

A

by glacial truncation of a spur

106
Q

where are triangular facets found

A

above the main glacier valley between hanging valleys

107
Q

what erosion landscape is this

A

truncated spur

108
Q

what are the depositional landscapes for continental glaciers (7)

A
  1. moraines
    (lateral, terminal, recessional, end, medial, ground)
  2. drumlin
  3. esker
  4. kames and kettle
  5. hummocky terrain
  6. outwash plain
  7. glacial erratic
109
Q

what is the method of forming all glacial deposition landscapes

A

glacial drift

110
Q

what is glacial drift

A

general term for all varieties and forms of rock debris deposited by ice sheets

111
Q

what are two kinds of glacial drift

A

stratified drift and till

112
Q

stratified drift VS till

A

stratified drift
- layers of SORTED clays, silts, sand or gravel deposited by MELTWATER STREAMS OR LAKES

Till
- UNSTRATIFIED mixture of rock fragments of all sizes, deposited by ICE

113
Q

does Till require water to deposit

A

NO - uses the ice itself

114
Q

stratified drift OR till

115
Q

stratified drift OR till

A

stratified drift

116
Q

moraines

A

depositional feature based on the accumulation of rock debris carried by a glacier before being deposited

117
Q

how are moraines deposited

A

based on glacial drift and the deposition of ice (so its till)

117
Q

where do moraines form

A

in and around glacier ice

118
Q

what are the different types of moraines

A

lateral
terminal
recessional
end
medial
ground

119
Q

lateral moraines

A

form at the SIDE of the glacier

120
Q

terminal moraines

A

FARTHEST END MORAINE showing the GREATEST advance of the glacier

121
Q

recessional moraines

A

forms at the current terminal of the glacier (closest to the mass of ice)

122
Q

end moraines

A

any moraine deposited at the terminal/foot of the glacier

123
Q

medial moraines

A

forms BETWEEN two glaciers (where they meet)

124
Q

ground moraines

A

forms under the glacier ice ON THE GROUND

125
Q

1

A

lateral moraine

126
Q

2

A

medial moraine

127
Q

3

A

end moraine

128
Q

4

A

recessional moraine

129
Q

5

A

ground moraine

129
Q

6

A

terminal moraine

130
Q

drumlin

A

depositional feature looking like smoothly rounded, oval hills of glacial TILL formed by moving ice over bedrock

131
Q

what other depositional feature are drumlins found with

A

with esters

132
Q

describe the sides of a drumlin

A

steep side = where the glacier is coming from and where it started to climb over the bedrock

gentle side = where the glacier is going after climbing over the bedrock

133
Q

what depositional feature is this

134
Q

1

135
Q

4

A

kettle lakes

135
Q

3

A

end moraine

136
Q

2

A

drumlin fields

137
Q

what is an esker

A

a narrow often sinuous looking embarkment of coarse gravel and boulders

138
Q

how are eskers deposited

A

by a meltwater stream (stratified drift)

139
Q

what depositional feature is this

140
Q

describe kames

A

irregularly shaped hill or mound composed of STRATIFIED sand, gravel or till

141
Q

what other depositional features are kames often associated with

A
  1. kettle holes
  2. end moraines
142
Q

what type of terrain are kettles and kames apart of

A

hummocky terrain

143
Q

how are kames deposited

A

glacier melt (stratified drift)

144
Q

how do kettles form

A

due to melting of large ice blocks which push down the topography below them with their weight

144
Q

kettles

A

depressions in the OUTWASH plains

145
Q

hummocky terrain

A

uneven or undulating surface texture with roughness varying between smooth and rough textures

146
Q

what type of depositional feature is this

147
Q

what type of depositional feature is this

A

hummocky terrain

148
Q

outwash plain

A

occurs at the front of a melting glacier and is a generally flat area dominated by braided rivers

149
Q

what depositional feature is this

A

outwash plain

150
Q

glacial erratic

A

piece of rock that differs from the size and type of rock native to that area where it was found

151
Q

how to glacial erratics end up where they do

A

based on being carried by glacial ice over long distances

152
Q

what is Big Rock in Okotoks an example of

A

depositional feature of erratic

153
Q

what depositional feature is this

A

glacial erratic

Geomorphology (12 decks)

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